Apparatus for polishing wire



May 30, 1944. r.- w|LsoN APPARATUS FOR POLIASHING WIRE Filed Oct. l,194g I tlvm/142904:,

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' Patented May 30,

UNITED STATES PATENr oFrlcE l amsn l marinos ron romsnmc. wma TomWilson, Baltimore, Md., asslgnor to BethlehemI Steel (ionrlpany,y acorporation oi' Pennsylvanla' Application october 1, 1942, serial No.460,396

21 claims. (ci. zei-sas) This invention relates to apparatus forpolishing or burnishingmaterial, and is more particularly adapted foruse in polishing galvanized wires, rods and the like, and an object oi'this invention is to provide an improved construction that will beautomatic and continuous in. operation, and which will insureaccuratepolishy ing of the material at a relatively low cost.

One of the objects of my invention relates to the means whereby thepressures of the polishy 'ing dies which engage opposite sides of thewire are controlled by a pair oi' pivoted levers which -are actuated bycentrifugal force when the polliizing frame body of the machineisrapidly ro- `Another feature of the invention relates to the manner'oicontrolling the swinging movement of the pivoted levers so that theywill swing inwardly or outwardly in unison.

Another object of my invention relates to the L manner of adjusting thepressure of the polishlng dies on the material as lt passes through thespecification and in which like characters of rei'- erence indicate likeparts: f Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the swingingmovement of the levers.

"Firthi which is sweated in place and havingv the machine takensubstantially on the line l-I of Fig. 2 with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.l f

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation ofA one of theblocks for holding oneof the polishing dies.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the block shown in Fig. 4.

Fis. 6 is a bottom plan view of the die blockv with the die in place.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of one oi the pivoted swinging levers and'Fig. 8is adetail transverse section taken on the line [-4 ot Pig. '1.

Referring now to thevarious characters of reference on the drawing, thenumeral iv designates the bed of the machinewhich is support-` ed in anysuitable manner, 2 'a pair ot spaced journal bearings each provided witha roller -bearingl 3. therein for receiving and s'uwortint the reducedtubular neck ends I o! aV cylindrical A polishing frame body l. 'meroller bearings 3 are held lnposiuon on the tubular' necks t by means ofthe bushings 6 and the bearings 2 are .further equipped with oil seals 1and oil inlet supply valves or the like l.

The cylindrical polishing frame body 5 is provided at its intermediateportion with a transverse rectangular opening 9, which is reduced inwidth at one'end as at 'il for receiving a pair of swinging levers iland mutilated gears l2 and i3 respectively, and centrally disposed atthe opposite end of said rectangular opening 9 the polishing frame body5. is formed with a pair of aligned grooves Il and transverselyextending cylindrical slideway openings I5 f or receiving thecylindrically shaped die holder blocks I6 for the polishing dies l1'.

The 4pair of swinging levers I I are lduplicates and disposedlongitudinally and in transverse alignment with each other at oppositesides of the machine, with their intermediate portions in the grooves Iland pivoted to the polishing frame body 5 by means oi bolts Il. One endof each swinging lever il is adapted to extend into a rectangularopenlngI9 in one of the die nolde blocks lc as indicated more clearly m Figs. 1and 2-and is pivoted by means of a pin 2lA to a pair ot liner plates 2lwhichare adapted for a slight sliding movement in relation to the t dieholder blocks II to compensate for the slight arc shaped path of travelof the pin 20 during The inner face oi each `die holder block Ii isprovided with a dovetailed recess 22 for receiving the polishing die l1formed of hard steel or alloy such as its inner face highly polished.

Theopposite end of each swinging lever Il is formed with a rack 23 formeshing with one of the mutilated gears i2 or I3 as the casemay be. Theintermediate portion oi each swinging lever li is'also provided 'atspaced intervals with sockets 24 and holes 25 for receiving cap screws28 by means of which a weight 2l may 4be adJust position they are eachformed with `ably attached to each swinging arm. and in order that theweights may be more rmly held in a channel as at 2l.

The mutilated gears i2 and i2 are o slightly ldiilereni; formation andare disposed in the rel frame body l and the necks 4 therefor asindi-'cated in Fig. 1 are formed tubular with the opening connected togethercentrally betweenthe swinging` levers li and mutilated gears l2 andfaces equally aswell.

I3 by means of a pipe section 34, and to allow for clearance between theweights 21 and the mutilated gears vthey are provided with arcf shapedgrooves 35 and 36 respectively. This pipe section 34 is plain at one endand vis inserted in the opening 33 adjacent to the burnishing dies I1lat one end of cylindrical polishing frame body i,

l ishing frame body one of the neck ends is provided with a pulley 42which is keyedto the neck 4 as at 4S and held in position by means o i anut 44 threaded on the end of vthe neck and a lock l washer 4i.

This machine may be adapted for. use as a right or left hand unit. Whenassembled as a right hand unit the parts will be disposed in theposition shown in full lines, but for a left handunit the pulley will bemounted on the neck at the4 opposite end of the machine as indicated indotted lines at 46, and the iournal bearing with the larger rollerbearing 3 will also be mounted at that end of the machine.

As it is desirable to inspect the polishing dies I1, transverse openings41 are formed in the cylindrical polishing frame body 5.

The operation of the machine is as follows: assuming that the machine isnot operating and the dies are closed with their polishing surfaces incontact with each other and the swinging levers II in the position'indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the operator presses the swinginglevers inwardly thereby opening the dies to their full extent.`

The end ofthe plated wire to be polished which may be received in theusual manner from a payout reel located adjacent to the end of themachine is inserted manually into the central opening 33 at the righthand end of the machine and advanced through the roller guide 33, pipesection 34, between the polishing dies I1 land out through' the opening33 at the left hand end of the machine, the endof the wire is thenattached to a take-up reel. 'I'he cylindrical .polishing frame body 5and the parts associated therewith are then rotated rapidly by means ofa motor or the like having a belt connection with the pulley 42. As thetake-up reel advances the wire through the machine the faces of thepolishing dies are pressed flrmly against4 the plated surface of thewire as it is rotated around the same by means of the centrifugal forceof the weighted swinging levers. This pressure may be varied byadjusting the weights on said swinging levers,

t while the mutilated gears I2 and I3 engaging the racks-23 insure auniform infand-out movement of the levers.

For illustration I have'described my invention as particularly adaptedfor use in polishing galvanized wire but I wish it understood that otherkinds of plating may be polished or dies could be used for cleaning,scouring or grinding wire sur- Although I have shown and described myinvention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to theexact construction shown and described, but may use such substitutions,modications or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scopeofmy invention, or as pointed out in the claims. i

' ported in the die holder and their opposite ends A Having thusdescribed my invention. whatI claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. In a polishing machine, a frame, spaced journal bearings forsupporting the frame, means for rotating the'frame, a pair of coactingdies mounted for radial movement in the frame, a swinging lever pivotedto the frame for actuating each dies' adapted to throw the diesinwardly, toward the axis of the yframe into operative positionbycentrifugal force during the rotation of the frame and means forgearing one end of the swinging levers together.

2.- In` a polishing machine, a frame, spaced Journal bearings forsupporting the frame, means for rotating the frame, a slideway formed inthe frame, a pair of oppositely disposed coacting die holders eachhaving a die mounted in the slide- .way, a swinging lever for actuatingeach die holder pivoted to the frame with one end extending into the dieholder and their opposite ends geared together adapted to throw the diesinto operative position by centrifugal force during the rotation of theframe.

3. A machine for polishing wire or the like, comprising a bed plate, apair of spaced Journal bearings mounted on the bed plate. a framesupported by the journal bearings-means for rotating the frame,transverse slideways formed in the frame, a pair of coacting die holdersmounted in the slideways, a die secured to each die holder, swinginglevers geared together at one end. each pivoted to the frame at anintermediate point and their opposite ends connected to the die holdersadapted to throw the diesinto operative position by centrifugal forceduring the rotation oi the frame.

4. In a machine for polishing strand material, a'frame, spacedjournalQbearings for supporting the frame, means for rotating the frame,a centrally disposed tubular passageway in the frame for receiving anadvancing strand, a transversely extending slideway formed in the frame,a pair of coacting die holders each having a die mountedin the slidewayadapted to engage opposite sides of the strand, a swinging lever foractuating each die holder pivoted at an intermediate .point to the framewith one end slidably supgeared together adapted to throw the dies intoengagement with the strand by centrifugal force during the rotation ofthe frame.

5. In a machine for polishing strand material, a frame, spaced journalbearings for supporting the frame, means for rotating the frame, acentrally disposed tubular passageway through the frame for receiving anadvancing strand, a slideway in the frame disposed in transversealignment at opposite sides Iof the strand, a die holder each having adie mounted in each slideway adapted to engage opposite sides of thestrand, a rectangular opening through each die holder, liner platesslidably movable in each rectangular opening in each die holder, aswinging -lever for actuating each die holder pivoted at an intermediatepoint to the frame with one end pivoted to the liner plates and theiropposite ends connected wgether to move in unison to throw the dies intoengagement with opposite sides of the strand by centrifugal force duringthe rotation of the frame.

6..A machine for polishing plated wire or the like, comprising a bedplate, a pair of spaced journal'bearings mounted on the bed plate, aframe having neck ends Journaled in the bearings, a tubular passagewayextending through the axis of the frame and neck ends for receiving anadvancing wire, transversely aligned slideways formed in the frame nearone end, means lor rotating the framea die holder in 'each naled in thebearings, a tubular passageway slideway having a die attached to itsinner face for engaging opposite sides of the wire, a rectangularopening through each die holder, a pair oi4 liner plates mounted forsliding movement in each rectangular opening in each die holder, aswinging lever for actuating each die holder pivoted at an intermediatepoint to the frame with one end pivotedto the liner plates and theiropposite ends geared together to swing in unison to throw the dies intoor out of engagement with the wire. i

'1. A machine for polishing plated wire or the like, comprising a bedplate, a pair of spaced journal bearingsmounted on `the bed plate, a

- frame having-neck ends journaled in the bearings, a tubular passagewaythrough the-axis of the frame and neck ends for receiving an ad- Ivancing wire, a pair of transversely aligned slideways' formed in theframe near one end having cylindricalsurfaces, means for rotating `theframe, a cylindrical die holder lin each slideway having a die attachedto its inner lface for engaging opposite sides of the wire, arectangular opening through each die holder, a pair of liner. lplatesmounted for sliding movement in eachl rectangular opening in the dieholders, a swinging lever for each die holder pivoted at an intermediatepoint to the frame with one' end extending into the rectangular openingin the die holder and pivoted to the liner plates, means fcr gearing theopposite ends Iof the swinging levers together, means for actuating theswinging leversy by centrifugal force during the rotation oithe frame tothrow the dies into engagement with a the wire, and means for adjustingthe pressure of the centrifugal force on the wire.

8.V A machine for polishing plated wire or the like, comprising a pairof spaced journal bearings, aframe having neck ends journaled in thehearings, a tubular passageway through the axis of the frame and neckends for receiving an advancingl wire, transversely aligned slidewayshaving cylindrical surfaces in the. frame disposed in alignment onvopposite sides of the wire, means for rotating the frame, a cylindricaldie holder in each slideway having a die attached to its inner face forengaging the wire, and pivoted levers slidably connected to the die4holders and actuated by centrifugal force during the rotation of theframe adapted to throw the dies 4into engagement with the wire.

9. A machine for polishing plated wire or the through the axis of theframe and neck ends for receiving an advancing wire, transverselyaligned slideways in the frame near one end disposed on oppo'site sidesof the wire, means for rotating the frame, a die holder in each slidewayhaving a die attached to its inner face for engaging the wire, aswinging lever pivoted at an intermediate point to the frame andslidably connected at one end to each die holder and their opposite endsgeared together actuated by centrifugal force during the rotation of theframe to throw the dies into engagement with the wire, and means foradjusting the pressure of the centrifugal force of the die on the wire.

1l. A machine for polishing vplated wire or the like, comprising a pairof spaced journal bearings, a frame having reduced neck ends journald inthe bearings, a tubular passageway through the axis of the frame andneck ends for receiving an advancing wire, a pair of slideways disposedtransversely in alignment near one end of the frame Aon opposite sidesof the wire, means for rotating'the frame, a die holder in each slidewayhaving a die attached to its inner face for engaging the wire, aswinging lever for actuating each die holder each pivoted at anintermediate point to the frame and having one end slidably connectedtothe diel'hoider and their opposite ends geared together to move irfunison, said swinging levers adapted to be ac- 'tuated by centrifugalforce during the rotation y of the frame to throw the diessimultaneously into engagement with the opposite sides of the wire, anda weight mounted for adjustment on `each swinging lever for adjustingthe pressure of the centrifugal force of the dies on the wire. l2. Amachine for polishing plated wire or the like, comprising a pair ofspaced journal bearings, a frame ha ing reduced neck ends wire, acylindrical die holder in each slideway having a die attached to itsinner face for engaging the-wire, a rectangular opening extendingthrough each die holder, a liner plate at each side ofthe rectangularopening in each die holder, a swinging lever for actuating each die Ythe swinging'leversby centrifugal force to throw the dies simultaneouslyinto engagement with the side of the wire..

13. A machine for polishing plated wire or the like, comprising a pairof spaced journal bearings, a frame .having reduced neck ends journaledin the bear-ings, a tubular passageway vthrough the. axis of (the frameand the reduced neck ends for receiving an advancing wire, transverselyaligned slideways in the frame having cylindrical surfaces disposed onoppomte sides of end to each die holder and their. opposite ends gearedtogether'actuated by centrifugal foreduring e rotation of the trame tothrow the dies V into engagement with the wire.

10. A Vmachine for polishing plated wireor the like, comprising a pairof spaced journal bearings, a frame having reduced neck endsjourthewire, a cylindrical die holder in each slideway having a die attached toits inner face for engaging the wire, a rectangular opening extendingthrough each die holder, a liner plate mounted for sliding movement ateach side of the rectangular opening inv each die holder.. a swinginglever for actuating each die holder Vpivoted at an intermediate point tothe frame having one end pivoted to the liner plates mounted in the dieholder, a rack formed at the opposite end of each swinging lever, a gearengaging each rack and meshing with each other to swing the levers inunison, and means for rotating the frame to actuate the swinging leversby ceninto engagement with the sides of the wire.

14. A- machine forv polishing plated wire or the like, comprising a bedplate, journal bearings mounted thereon, a frame rotatably supported bythe journal bearings, means for rotating the frame, a tubular passagewaythrough the axis of the frame for'receiving an advancing wire, a pairof` coacting polishing dies mounted for transverse movement in theframe, and a pair of swinging levers pivoted to the frame and connectedtogether at one end, actuated centrifugally by the rotation of the framefor forcing the polishing dies toward the axis of the frame intoengagement with the wire.

15. A machine for polishing plated wire or the like, comprising a bedplate, journal bearings mounted thereon, a frame rotatably supported bythe journal bearings, a tubular passageway through the axis of the framefor receiving an advancing wire, a pair of transversely alignedslideways formed in the frame, a die holder in each slideway, adovetailed recess formed in the inner face ofeach die holder, a diesecured in each dovetailed recess, a swinging lever piv'- oted to theframe at an intermediate point and vhaving one end connected to each dieholder ings mounted thereon, a frame rotatably sup-l ported by thejournal bearings, means for rotating the frame, a tubular passagewaythrough the axis of the frame for receiving an advancing wire, 'a pairof aligned coasting polishing dies mounted for transverse movement inthe frame on opposite sides of the tubularpassageway, and a pair ofswinging levers pivoted to the frame having one of their ends gearedtogether and amasar n the like, comprising a bed plate, journal bearingsVtrifugal force to throw the dies simultaneously mounted thereon, acylindrical frame having reduced neck ends .extending therefromjournaled in the bearings, means for rotating the frame, a tubularpassageway through the axis of the frame for receiving an advancingwire, an opening through the central portion of the cylindrical frame, apair of transversely aligned slideways in the cylindrical frame adjacentto one end of the opening, a dieholder in each slideway having apolishing die secured to its inner face adapted to revolve around thewire during the rotation of the' frame, a pivoted swinging lever mountedin the cylindrical frame opening having one Iend connected to each dieholder and the opposite ends of said swinging levers geared together andadapted to he actuated centrifugally by the rotation of the frame toforce each of thepolishing dies toward 'the axis of the frame intoengagement with opposite sides of the wire.

19. A machine for polishing plated wire or 'the like, comprising a pairof spaced journal A bearings. a frame Journaled in the bearings,-

means for rotating the frame, a tubular passageway throughrthe axis ofthe frame for receiving an advancing wire, a slideway on each side ofthe tubular passageway disposed in align- 20. A machine for polishingplated wire or the like, comprising a bed plate, a pair of spacedjournal bearings mounted thereon, a frame having reduced neck endsjournaled in the'bearings, means for. rotating the frame, a tubularpassageway through the axis `of the frame and vreduced-neck ends forreceiving an advancing ing a polishing die secured to its inner -faceadapted to revolve around the wire during the rotation of the frame, andswinging levers pivoted to the frame and actuated centrifugally byv Ythe rotating frame for forcing the polishing dies adapted to be actuatedcentrifugally by the ro tation of the frame for forcing each of thepolishing dies toward the axis 'of-the frame inte engagement withopposite sides of the wire.

17. A machine for polishing Plated Wire fil'.-V the like, comprising abed plate, Journal bearings mounted thereon, a frame rotatably supportedby the journal bearings, means' for rotating the frame, a tubularpassageway through :the axis of the frame for receiving an advancingavpair of aligned coacting polishing dies mount-'- ed for transversemovementv in the frame on opposite sides of the tubular passageway, ,a

swinging lever pivoted at an intermediate point to the frame having oneend connected to a die and actuated centrifugally by the rotation of the4frame' for forcing eachxof the polishing dies toward the .axis of theframe into engagement into engagement with -the surface of the` wire. 21.`A machine for polishing plated wire or the like, comprisinga bedplate, a pair of spaced journal bearings mounted thereon, a frame havingreduced neck-ends lournaled in the Journal bearings, a tubularpassageway through the axis of the frame and reduced neck ends forreceivi end to each die holder pivoted atan intermediate point to theframe and actuated centrifu'gaily by the rotating frame for forcing thepolishing dies into engagement with the surface of the wire, gearingfor'moving .the swinging levers in-

